ITV’s Adultery: The Messy Relationship Drama That Will Have You Hooked From the First Episode

The Next Must-Watch Affair Drama Has Arrived

When it comes to gritty relationship dramas, few have managed to match the brilliance of The Affair—until now. ITV’s Adultery is poised to become the messy, addictive series you won’t be able to resist. As detailed in Screenshot (550).png, this six-part psychological thriller dives headfirst into forbidden love, class tensions, and the chaos that erupts when desire collides with family duty.

Produced by Poison Pen and written by BAFTA-winner Danny Brocklehurst (Fool Me Once, Brassic), Adultery promises to be both provocative and deeply human. With a cast led by Dominic Cooper and Romola Garai, the show is already generating buzz as the next big binge-watch.

The Cast: A Lineup of Heavy Hitters

Adultery assembles an impressive ensemble, each actor bringing their own brand of intensity to the screen. Here’s who’s who:

• Dominic Cooper (Preacher, The Devil’s Double) as Tom Kirkman—a father whose life is thrown into turmoil.
• Romola Garai (One Life, Vigil) as Beth Brookes—the woman who becomes the object of Tom’s forbidden desire.
• Shelley Conn (Gen V, Bridgerton) as Hannah, Tom’s wife.
• Matthew McNulty (Domina, Deadwater Fell) as Neil, Beth’s husband.
• Johnny Sanpher as Ollie Brookes, Beth’s teenage son.
• Leila Khan (Heartstopper, Crookhaven) as Jess Kirkman, Tom’s daughter.
• Andrew Knott (Gavin & Stacey, Protection) as Dave.
• James Murray (The Crown, Masters of the Air) as Paul Kirkman.
• Charley Webb (The Long Shadow, Better) as Leah Kirkman.

This star-studded roster guarantees powerhouse performances, with Cooper and Garai leading the charge into morally grey territory.

The Plot: When Teen Love Sparks Adult Chaos

At its core, Adultery is a story about two ordinary families whose lives become entangled in explosive ways. The drama kicks off when Tom’s 15-year-old daughter Jess falls head-over-heels for schoolmate Ollie. The teens are inseparable, their relationship all-consuming. But when Tom meets Ollie’s mum, Beth, under unexpected circumstances, a different kind of attraction ignites—one that threatens to upend everything.

ITV’s official synopsis, as quoted in Screenshot (550).png, teases: “There’s a psychological equation. It says that ‘attraction plus an obstacle equals excitement.’ But what happens if the attraction is too strong, if the obstacles are too great? Do you threaten everything?” This central question drives the narrative, exploring passion, parenthood, and peril in equal measure.

The show also raises questions about class, grief, and the corrosive effects of social media—themes that feel ripped from today’s headlines.

Mastermind Danny Brocklehurst: A Writer on Fire

Danny Brocklehurst has built a reputation for crafting taut, emotionally raw dramas. His adaptation of Harlan Coben’s Fool Me Once became a global hit, and his co-creation of Sky’s Brassic is beloved for its raw humor and heart. With Adultery, he returns to the terrain of forbidden love that made The Affair a phenomenon.

In comments included in the source, Brocklehurst says: “I’m thrilled to be partnering with ITV and Poison Pen to bring audiences a show about how love and sex have the capacity to lift us to the highest highs and the lowest lows.” Meanwhile, ITV’s Director of Drama Polly Hill calls the series “addictive”—a sentiment that feels earned.

Why Adultery Could Dethrone The Affair

The Affair set a high bar for messy relationship dramas, but Adultery brings fresh energy. Where The Affair focused on a single couple over years, Adultery compresses the action into six tight episodes, creating a pressure-cooker of emotions. The teenage subplot adds an extra layer of irony: as the parents descend into chaos, their children’s innocent romance becomes a mirror—and a warning.

Dominic Cooper’s Tom and Romola Garai’s Beth are not the only ones navigating dangerous desires. The supporting characters—the betrayed spouses, the grieving friend, the meddling relatives—all add depth to a story that refuses to judge its characters.

Release Date and Where to Watch

ITV has confirmed that Adultery will premiere on ITV1 and ITVX this autumn. An exact date hasn’t been announced yet, but the network is expected to drop it in prime time. Based on the buzz, it’s likely to become one of the most talked-about shows of the season.

Until then, fans can rewatch The Affair or catch up on Brocklehurst’s previous work. But one thing is certain: Adultery is coming, and it won’t be easy to look away.

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